Institute for Urban Education

“I love it here. I wouldn’t change it a bit. If I look back on it, I would still make the same choice. I would still apply to the IUE. I’m thankful that I was accepted.”

Harrison Neal
IUE student

B.A. in Elementary Education

Students who complete The Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education have a professional portfolio and are eligible for recommendation by UMKC for certification to teach grades first through sixth.

B.A. in Middle School Education

The Bachelor of Arts degree in middle school education includes one of the following areas of emphasis: mathematics education, science education or literacy education.

Philosophy of curriculum

To address the achievement gap between white students and students of color, especially in the areas of math, science and literacy, a special program has been designed. The
Institute for Urban Education (IUE) curriculum works to prepare exemplary educators for urban schools, educators who are agents of change and who demonstrate cultural and pedagogical awareness. IUE coursework and classroom experiences will shape their educational and interpersonal by the following methods:

field experiences aligned with coursework usually taught in urban classrooms,

support for beginning teachers and

The Summer Community Experience – an immersion program in which IUE students spend eight weeks connecting with the Kansas City community and its urban service agencies, and engaging in activities with students and their families.

There is a strong content component aligned with the knowledge of how individuals learn. Consequently, students in the IUE will take math and/or science and teaching methods nearly every semester of the program. Additionally, the content and pedagogical courses of the IUE are aligned with national and state math, science, and literacy standards.

Even after graduation, IUE teachers will have the support and attention of master teachers. This is the best tool against high attrition rates among urban educators.

Requirements

Students must successfully pass the College Basic Exam
(C-BASE) and the Written English and Proficiency Test (WEPT)
prior to the junior year.

Students must meet IUE program standards including
maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 each
semester for continuation of their scholarship. All financial support
for IUE students will be coordinated with the Financial Aid and
Scholarship Office.

Students must make a commitment to teach in a Kansas City area partner district for up to four years following graduation in exchange for the financial support.

Accreditation

The teacher education programs offered through the UMKC School of
Education's Institute for Urban Education are accredited at the bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist and doctoral levels by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education for the preparation of elementary teachers, secondary teachers and other school personnel.